PSU Volleyball wins Tom Hay Invitational at Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Plymouth State University
women's volleyball team captured the annual Tom Hay Invitational at
Springfield College Saturday afternoon, defeating Westfield State
College, 3-1, and Colby-Sawyer College, 3-0, to finish the
tournament with a 4-0 record.

The Panthers, who also outlasted Western New England College and
host Springfield College on Friday night, improve to 22-1 on the
season. Ranked 11th in New England, PSU has won
six in a row and has posted 20 wins in a season for the third
straight year and seventh time in the last eight years.

Senior middle hitter Eliza Badeau (Foster,
R.I.) had another big day and was named tournament MVP. She
made 22 kills with a .538 attack percentage in the win over
Westfield, and added 14 kills with a .423 attack
percentage in the victory over Colby-Sawyer. Badeau
(right) posted a .408 attack percentage for the tournament
with two 20-kill performances, reaching 20 in kills for the fifth
time this season and 13th time in her career.

Senior
setter Brianna Kleckner (Terryville, Conn.) was
also a PSU representative on the All-Tournament Team. She
recorded 173 assists in PSU's four matches in the tournament,
including 45 in Saturday's win over Westfield State and 32 in the
victory over Colby-Sawyer. Kleckner (left)
entered this week ranked sixth in the nation in Division III in
assists per set. She also registered 49 digs in the tourney,
including 17 in the victory over Westfield.

PSU dropped the opening set to Westfield, 26-24, but came back to
win the next three, 25-16, 25-16 and 25-11. Badeau led the
Panther offense with 22 kills and just one attack error, while
classmate Carly Newton (Centerville, Mass.) added
10 kills. Sophomore Alex Avery (Milton,
N.H./Nute) finished with a team-high 23 digs, and senior
Kathy Frankowski (Farmington, Conn.) and junior
Kelsey Petty (Salem, N.H.) added four service aces
apiece.

The Panthers posted their second win of the season over
Colby-Sawyer in the nightcap, this time in straight sets (25-12,
25-15, 25-20). Badeau led the way with 14 kills and Newton
added nine. Avery finished with a team-high 13 digs, and sophomore
Meghan Sullivan (Marlton, N.J.) added 12.

PSU returns home to host Norwich on Wednesday at Foley Gymnasium
(6:00 p.m.). The Panthers are 7-0 at home this season.